We are very pleased to present our first annual Drinking Water Quality Report. The purpose of this
report is to provide information to our customers about the quality of our drinking water. It contains a
table of water quality data, definitions of terms, specific language requirements, and other information we
hope you will find useful and educational. Please read this report carefully and contact Sandy Burwick,
SWA CFO/Office Administrator or Roger Dick, SWA Water Treatment Plant Operator at 701-225-0241 or
888-425-0241 or e-mail us at swa@swwater.com, if you have any questions.

Where does our drinking water come Is our raw water supply
from and how is it treated?
susceptible to contamination?
Our drinking water is supplied
to us by the City of Mandan. The
Mandan Water Treatment Plant
treats surface water that is drawn
from the Missouri River. They
then use the following treatment
processes before delivering the
water to their customers: clarification,
softening, filtration, fluoridation, and
disinfection. The Missouri West Water
System purchases water from the
City of Mandan for delivery to their
customers. The Southwest Water Authority then purchases
water from Missouri West Water System for delivery to you,
our valued customers.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled
water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs,
springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the
land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring
minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can
pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals
or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present
in source water include:
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria,
which may come from sewage treatment plants,
septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and
wildlife.
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals,
which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban
stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater
discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or
farming.
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from
a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban
stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic
and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products
of industrial processes and petroleum production, and
can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater
runoff, and septic systems.
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturallyoccurring or be the result of oil and gas production and
mining activities.

The North Dakota Department of Health has
prepared a Source Water Assessment for the City
of Mandan’s surface water intake and has classified
Mandan’s water system as moderately susceptible
to potential contaminant sources. It should be noted
that historically, the city has effectively treated its
source water to meet drinking water standards and
the risk for potential contamination is low. Information
about the Source Water Assessment is available by
calling 701-225-0241 or 1-888-425-0241, or e-mail us
at swa@swwater.com.

Is our water safe to drink?

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably
be expected to contain at least small amounts of some
contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not
necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More
information about contaminants and potential health
effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800-426-4791). More information about drinking water is
available on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/safewater.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink,
EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount
of certain contaminants in water provided by public
water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled
water which must provide the same protection for
public health.
Some people may be more vulnerable to
contaminants in drinking water than the general
population. Immuno-compromised persons such as
persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
persons who have undergone organ transplants,
people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system
disorders, some elderly, and infants can be
particularly at risk from infections. These people
should seek advice about drinking water from
their health care providers. EPA/Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
guidelines on appropriate means to lessen
the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium
and other microbial contaminants are
available from the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline (800-426-4791).

EPA requires us to monitor for over 90 drinking water contaminants and those that were detected are
listed in the table below. Test results are from 2006. The State does allow reduced monitoring for certain
contaminants because their levels do not change significantly over time. For this reason, some of the test
results are more than one year old.

Definitions and abbreviations:

• Action Level or AL: The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other
requirements which a water system must follow.
• Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking
water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
• Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which
there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking
water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial
contaminants.
• Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below
which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of
disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
• Parts per billion or ppb: 1 ppb is equivalent to adding 1 pound of a contaminant to 999,999,999 pounds
of water (about 120,000,000 gallons).
• Parts per million or ppm: 1 ppm is equivalent to adding 1 pound of a contaminant to 999,999 pounds of
water (about 120,000 gallons).
• Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking
water.
• N/A: Not Applicable
• NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Units
1
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. It is monitored because it is a good indicator of the
effectiveness of our filtration system.
As you can see from the table, there were no exceedances or violations. We are pleased to report that our
water system was also in compliance with all other drinking water regulations in 2006.
The Southwest Water Authority encourages you to participate in decisions that may affect our water by
attending any of our regularly scheduled meetings, which are held on the first Monday of each month. If
you are interested in attending or would like to request agenda time, please contact us at 701-225-0241
or 1-888-425-0241 for information on time and location. The City of Mandan, as our water supplier, also
conducts regular meetings that may pertain to our water. If you are interested in attending any of their
meetings, please call 701-667-3275 for more information. Missouri West Water System also holds
regular meetings that may relate to our water. If you wish to attend any of their meetings, please call
701-663-8549 for more information. Please contact us if you are aware of non-English speaking
individuals who need assistance with the appropriate language translation. We would also
appreciate it if our large volume water customers would post copies of this report in conspicuous
locations or distribute them to tenants, residents, patients, students, and/or employees. This
will allow individuals who consume our drinking water, but who do not receive water bills, to
learn about our water system.